LIFE WITH BIG BROTHER

White House had advance notice of detention

Partner of journalist who interviewed Snowden held at airport

Published: 08/19/2013 at 6:26 PM

(BLOGS.WSJ) — The White House was given advance notice of the British government’s plans to detain the partner of the Guardian reporter who has written a series of high-profile stories about U.S. surveillance practices, a spokesman said Monday.

In the daily White House briefing, spokesman Josh Earnest declined to condemn the detainment and didn’t directly answer questions about whether U.S. officials expressed any concern to their British counterparts about the U.K.’s plans.

“This was something we had an indication was likely to occur,” Mr. Earnest said. “But it’s not something we requested.”